[jmull]

I can “reassure” you: this is unambiguously a bad idea.

First, market forces already standardized on two main standards.

Second, the interop problem is a $10 cable between wall-wart and device.

So the problem solved is a small one. I think this idea got its momentum from years ago when practically every model of phone had a different charger and wall wart.

Meanwhile, think about what you lose.

Is USB-C really the end-game of charging connectors? It has existing issues with labeling and capabilities confusion. What about mag-safe-style connectors? Does a phone necessarily need a charging connector at all and might there not be advantages to not having one?

As an aside, ewaste will increase in the short term, of course, as people will have to throw out their lighting stuff and buy USB-C stuff. (Don’t worry, it’s not a lot — small problem, remember.)

[Kbelicius]

> First, market forces already standardized on two main standards.

EU sat down the manufacturers and told them that if they don't come to an agreement the EU will make the choice for them. Most of them came to an agreement. So you are right, market forces did make manufacturers to standardize on two main standards. That force is named EU.

> Is USB-C really the end-game of charging connectors?

No, and EU has no illusions that it is.

> Does a phone necessarily need a charging connector at all and might there not be advantages to not having one?

No, and the EU doesn't think that it does.

> As an aside, ewaste will increase in the short term, of course, as people will have to throw out their lighting stuff and buy USB-C stuff. (Don’t worry, it’s not a lot — small problem, remember.)

This is just stupid fearmongering. People won't have to throw their lightning stuff.

[jmull]

I don't think EU regulation works the way you think it does.

> This is just stupid fearmongering.

I guess if you can't make a good point, you can always hurl insults.

What do you think people who upgrade their iPhones in 2024 will do with their lightning cables which no longer connect to anything they have?

[skohan]

Even if they throw them out, it's better to pull off the bandaid than to go on creating more and more redundant cables and e-waste for the next 30 years

[jhasse]

> What do you think people who upgrade their iPhones in 2024 will do with their lightning cables which no longer connect to anything they have?

sell

[jmull]

The EU market for cables with lightning connectors will be contracting for some reason at that time.

[grey-area]

New iphones come with a cable.

[Nullabillity]

> First, market forces already standardized on two main standards.

So, one standard too many. Especially when one of those standards is held hostage by one corporation.

> Is USB-C really the end-game of charging connectors?

It's close enough, we can already see that improvements have been incredibly incremental already. Hell, it would have been fine to stick to micro-B or even mini-B.

> What about mag-safe-style connectors?

You already have people building those as third-party dongles. Clearly it doesn't have to be part of the spec.

> Does a phone necessarily need a charging connector at all

Yes. Wireless charging is inherently far less efficient than wired charging.

> and might there not be advantages to not having one?

No. To steal a quote from yourself: this is unambiguously a bad idea.

[skohan]

But you're assuming this USB-C decision is eternal right? Couldn't the problems you raised be solved by having a standards organization which could monitor and update the status quo over time based on the technologies available?

[jmull]

Which already exists -- without EU regulatory processes to encumber them.